Country Bumpkin

Fall is a-comin'! Being in Cleveland, the weather cannot seem to fully make up its mind. This is pretty typical of our city. One day, we get that lovely fall breeze, bringing in the chilliness that makes me want to bundle up in tights and scarves and adorable boots, and then the next day it's back up into summer temperatures and I'm in sandals and sundresses again. I'm not really complaining, though, because as much as I adore fall, we never really got a summer here. So we're all hanging on tightly to our last few warm days. There is abundance of people on the streets who you can just tell are denying the change in seasons. Even with the unexpected warmth, it's almost October, and no longer flip-flop season.





For some reason, fall seems to be synonymous with the ideas of country and farms. I suppose it has a lot to do with the images we see around this time of hay bales and scarecrows and, at least in the Midwest, plenty of fresh autumn produce like corn, apples, and squash. I know the apple season is ending soon, but I'm hoping to go apple-picking before it's totally gone. Enjoying the last of the sun's warmth before it hides away for the winter and running through the orchard is a wonderfully romantic idea to me. I haven't experienced the fun of apple picking since I was a little girl, and even then, I was with a school group so it would be entirely different if I were to go today!





Of course, the best part about fall, apart from the fashion, is the pumpkin!!! I cannot express to you all how much I adore pumpkin. Pumpkin flavor, pumpkin scent, the look of pumpkins on our porch, it's all perfect. I'm sure there will be a couple of posts within the next month or so about all the pumpkin goodness that I come across this season. Pretty soon, we will all be headed to our local farms to pick out our pumpkins for October and Halloween, and before we know it we will be carving jack-o-lanterns! You'll all have to stay tuned for that, too, because my family always seems to come up with the wackiest faces for ours!





Since we're still kind of teetering between the sunny heat of summer and the brisk chill of autumn, I'm taking advantage of these last chances to wear my lighter weight dresses without tights. This is one of my favorite dresses because it is so breezy and light. It was a thrift store find, and I'm pretty sure it's homemade. Every time I wear it, it reminds me of the dresses that Laura used to describe in the "Little House on the Prairie" books. I'm not really sure why, but it does make me feel kind of country bumpkin-ish (in the best way possible, of course). Today, I decided to add my orange gingham top, which just kind of added to that country feel. The boots just topped it off! Sometimes, I think it's ok to stray from high-fashion and be comfortable, especially as we get deeper into the season. Give in to the country callin' y'all!

What's your favorite part about fall? What images come to mind for you?

P.S. I have to wear a slip with this dress and sometimes I think it's fun to let your petticoat slip a little :P

Few Words

Tonight, I'm finding it difficult to put my thoughts into words. Mostly because my thoughts are not substantial enough at the moment to write anything particularly meaningful. While I could just put off this post until the words come to me, which could be in a day or so, I have found through experience that writing when you least want to can bring out some of the best work. Sometimes you need to just let yourself write in order to find what you were really trying to say. This is probably the fourth or fifth time I've tried to start writing, trying to come up with a topic that I could really expound upon, when in reality, all I needed to do was write about how much trouble I'm having writing. Sometimes, you don't need a lot of words. Sometimes the few words that you do have in your head are worth just as much time as the long, eloquent thoughts that rush out of you when you're feeling at your creative best.





If nothing else, finding this habit of writing every day, no matter what thoughts you may or may not have, keeps your mind active and helps you to later pluck those deeply buried ideas out of the cobweb-crusted corners of your brain. I've mentioned before about my Belgium blog and how, when I was writing on that blog daily, I found that I wrote some of my best poems, took some of best photos, and created some of my best art. It's an important part of the daily routine, even if it's short and sweet.





It took me a while to get them out, but I think these few words were very much needed on my part. Plus, they are accompanied by this cute outfit, which I think really exemplifies the idea of style fluidity that I was talking about yesterday. This business casual-ish look is quite different from the 90s drab that I was rocking yesterday!

P.S. I'm a little bit in love with this necklace. I bought it at a tiny little boutique in Westchester, PA and it's now one of my staples! Simple, lovely, and versatile. Basically, the perfect necklace.

I suppose my few words turned into quite a few words! That is what happens when you just let yourself go and let the writing take over.

Cool and Comfy

Something I've always known about myself, but have really been paying attention to these past few days, is how vast my interests are. Of course, my main focus is, and always will be, the performing arts, but I am drawn to other things, too. This blog, for example. My photography, my writing, reading, fashion, travel, are all interesting to me and I enjoy the time I spend on them. There is a common denominator, though, between all of these different hobbies: they're all very creative. I like using my mind in unconventional ways. I enjoy looking at the world through a camera lens because you can capture what you see in a way that someone else might not notice with their naked eye. I can describe my life experiences through writing in a way that is very different from someone else's experience. Similarly, I can dress myself differently every single day to reflect what it is I am feeling in that moment. Fashion is a great tool of self-expression that I have been exploring since I was a teenager.





Just as I have a number of different hobbies and ways to pass my time, I also find that I have quite a few different styles. I wouldn't say that my style is finite or rock solid. It's fluid and changes, depending on my mood. There are days, like this one, where I just want to be comfortable and channel my 90s "Full House" childhood. Other days, I really gravitate towards my vintage pieces. Some days, I have the urge to be as feminine as possible. Sometimes, I like to follow modern trends, like layering. There are times when I feel like I'm having an identity crisis with my clothes. However, the more I think about it, the more I like that about myself. I like that I can take the pieces in my closet and put them together into unlimited combinations to suit whatever I'm feeling. It's just one more way to let my creative mind blossom and make something unique.





We went to visit my cousin today at the University of Dayton and I knew that I was going to be spending a good portion of the day in a car, probably sleeping, if we're being honest. I wanted to be comfortable and ready for whatever weather, since you never know in our lovely state of Ohio. I just got this shirt yesterday and I'm already completely in love with it. I have a feeling it's about to be one of my go-to pieces that I throw on when I have no idea what to wear. It's simple, versatile, and insanely light. It has that easy-like-Sunday-morning vibe that you sometimes need when your mind is going a mile a minute and you just need to chill. Pair it with some fun jewelry, like this awesome hand piece and super earring pairing, and I felt cozy and chic all in one! Isn't it amazing how clothes can help you feel that way? At least for me they can...





My ever-changing style will always be a big part of my personality. I really do enjoy taking the time in the morning to look through my clothes and put together an outfit that makes me feel my very best each day. I believe in "look good, feel good". This doesn't necessarily mean that I think the way I look is the most important thing about me, or even that I need to fit into any sort of predefined definition of "looking good". What it means is that I feel best when I know I took some time to put some effort into myself. I know that my confidence brightens when I'm happy in what I'm wearing, whether it fits into society's standards of "pretty" or not. But I'm about to get into a whole different topic, now, so I think I'll wrap this up here! What about you? How do you define your personal style?

Nostalgia

For some reason, the past few weeks have really brought out my nostalgic thoughts. I've gone through old yearbooks, passed some time with friends, and enjoyed reliving my high school days through reminiscing. Of course, I really have no desire to actually go back to those days, but thinking about them really makes me miss how simple it all was back then. Sure, we stressed about school and we worried about boys and there was drama with friends, but in the grand scheme of things, life was easy. We went to school, day after day, hung out afterwards, and in my case, participated in an astonishing number of extracurricular activities. We thought about the future, but mostly about college. We talked about getting married and having kids, but now it's actually starting to happen. We were getting older, but we weren't quite "growing up" yet.





Now, all of the sudden, my friends are getting married. Some of them are even parents! It blows my mind every time I see a new engagement or baby announcement. I just keep thinking of us as that silly group of teenagers, running around the high school barefoot waiting for our drama club or dance team rehearsal to start. Now, we're graduating from college, some from grad school, getting big kid jobs, finding life partners and having children. Suddenly, we're all grown up. I'm not quite there yet, but at the end of this year I will be out in the world, making my career and settling into adult life. It's scary, especially when I think about how easy it was to be a teenager, cruising in my '94 Jeep with the windows rolled down, blasting some indie rock music in the middle of summer with my friends piled in the back seat.





Sometimes, I miss my past. I know, though, that I need to move forward. It's funny how when we're kids, all we want is to be grown up. We want to be treated like adults and we *think* we want that responsibility. Then we become adults and it all changes. We want the coloring books and the roller blades and bubbles. I'll be honest, I still pull those items out from time to time! It's fine to reflect on those times and think about how much we've grown, but it's important not to get bogged down in them. We are who we are because of where we've been and what we've done. I do think it is healthy to acknowledge that part of ourselves. But it is time to head in this new direction toward adulthood. I want to be that adult. My grown up life is right in front of me, and I think I'm ready to embrace it.

Back To School!

Well, here we are once again. The beginning of the academic year. This is my fourth and final year at Cleveland State, and let me tell you, I am so ready to graduate! We are only in the second week of classes and it already seems like the tasks are piling up. I definitely came into this year, though, with a get-it-done mentality. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can't wait to reach it!





This is the outfit that I wore on the first day of school, last Monday. This dress was one of those amazing finds on super sale that fit perfectly and wears so well. I found it over the summer at Urban Outfitters, on clearance! I rarely shop there, because I am a poor college student, but when I'm in Orlando, I often find myself in the store, just browsing and exploring the different patterns and shapes. I really think that if I didn't go into theatre, it would have been some aspect of fashion, be it design, weddings, what have you. I love this dress because it is light, airy, has a beautiful feminine shape and a lovely delicate pattern. I don't always go for the super girly style, but when I do, I enjoy the lace and floral features. To be honest, I probably have more floral prints in my closet than anything else. They are classic and timeless and, let's face it, they make me feel pretty!





This necklace is one of my staple accessories. I can't believe I haven't featured it on the blog yet. It was another lucky Florida find. I was in Macy's and there was only one left, without a tag on it, and I just knew I couldn't leave that store without it. It's one of my favorite necklaces of all time! It always reminds me of the old tales of Coco Chanel and how she wore her sewing scissors on a string of pearls around her neck. French perfection.





I'm going into this school year as positive as I could possibly be! I'm ready to take on the world and finish my education strong. I really believe in the power of positivity. A good attitude brings so many other good things with it. School is tough, yes, but it is one of those things in life that is always worth the work. My old band director used to say, it's 10% skill and 90% attitude. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I completely believe that so much of your success lies in your own self and how you perceive the world. It is a choice to keep your chin up. Is it always easy? Of course not. But the effort pays off the in the end. Trust me.

Are you back in school this year?

French-American Fashion

During the three weeks that I was in France, I'll be honest, I spent quite a bit of time shopping. I did a lot of other things, too, don't worry. But in my exploration of the cities, I would duck into a boutique here and there and I think it was a great way to get a different sense of the French culture. Fashion is so interesting that way. With fashion, you can see what other cultures are affecting the French. For example, Abercrombie is a very popular brand over there, among other American marks. In Paris alone I saw three different American Apparel store (and I may have bought a circle scarf...). By seeing the different fashion trends, whether I recognized them as American or not, it gave me a good sense of French pop culture.





In this outfit, the shorts were thrifted in Paris and the shoes were bought in Clermont-Ferrand from a store called André. It is a pretty large chain shoe store that can be found throughout France and I pretty much fell in love with their sandals. This is one of the two pairs that I bought in my three weeks and they are so versatile. I bought them because I was in pretty desperate need of a pair of casual sandals and I always have trouble finding ones that fit, due to my wide dancer feet. So when I found these, I knew that I just had to purchase them or I would never find another pair. Once I bought them, I basically lived in them for the rest of the trip. Like I said, so versatile! The color allows them to go with pretty much anything and I love how strappy they are. They are casual enough for everyday wear, but if I wanted to wear them with a nicer dress, I would feel totally comfortable wearing them out.



The shorts were found at a thrift store in Paris where everything was priced by the kilo. I was so excited when I found them, even though they are H&M brand. Even so, finding a good pair of high waisted shorts with a fun print is always a triumph! Finding them is Paris? Even better! I can't wait to experiment with these and find different things with which to pair them. They're a little bold, but it'll be a challenge, which is always a good time.





I think I'm a shopaholic. Sure I enjoy shopping in the States, but abroad? It's even more fun! Like I said, it's such a great way to discover pop culture. When it comes to French fashion, it's not extremely different from American fashion, but it's clear that we influence each other. So many Americans think that the French are the queens of fashion, but the truth is that we inspire them in so many ways. It's a cool game of give and take. We affect each other and beautiful clothing comes from it, along with a broad range of personal style and what "fashion" actually means. I think it's so great that I can wear pieces that I bought here and pieces that I bought there and combine them for awesome outfits. I have found some of my favorite closet staples in other countries. Do you have any unique pieces that you bought abroad?

Life Lately

Guys, it's been nuts around here over the last week or so. Life has just been a whole bunch of crazy! It's a good crazy, though. I would really rather be busy than not. Between school, work, all my extracurriculars, and starting our show, there has been a lot going on.





I suppose I should elaborate on those things. We're about a month into school, and so far I've really been enjoying it! I'm totally overloaded on classes this semester but rather than feeling overwhelmed, I feel like I'm actually learning things, which is a wonderful feeling. I'm a talent scholarship student this year, so I also have a few more responsibilities than I did last year. I have more service hours that I have to complete and a community service project to think about. I'm also on the dance company this year. So much to do!





I've also been working at Catan Fashions, which is a bridal salon. I've been there for about a month now, and I really enjoy my job! It's so fun to work with brides and help them find their dream dress for their wedding. I love being around the dresses and getting to talk and think fashion for a while on my weekends. Plus, I like getting paid. It's kind of like Say Yes to the Dress, but in real life.

Now for the big news: We're starting our rehearsals for our musical, "Cabaret", today! I am so incredibly excited for this, I can't believe I haven't blown up my blog with updates. We went through our entire audition process two weeks ago and I was in hell waiting for the cast list to be posted. It all paid off, though, because I was cast as Sally Bowles! For those of you who aren't familiar with the show, that's the lead... We have our first read-through tonight and I cannot wait to get started!





Otherwise, I've been working on getting really in shape and getting back into healthy eating. Living at home makes that more difficult than when I'm on my own, but I still think I can lose ten pounds by the time we open the show. It's gonna happen! I've also been trying really hard to make more time to take outfit photos, even though that's not always an easy thing to do, and it's going to keep getting harder as we get farther into the rehearsal process. I'll figure out a way to make it work, though! I've also been spending time with my man whenever I can. We actually just celebrated eight months yesterday. I know that isn't really a milestone, but we still had dinner together and made a fire outside. I know, awwwwwww.




dress: forever 21, shirt: H&M, belt: H&M, neckace: sister's, shoes: H&M

A note about this outfit, it's totally a maxi dress with one of my sister's shirts over it. I hadn't realized it until just now, but most of the pieces that I'm wearing are actually from H&M. That nail polish is probably one of my favorite colors I've ever put on my nails, not to mention it lasted well! I think I'll need to invest in a new wide belt soon, though, because that one has gotten a lot of wear. It's my go-to belt. Also, those curls are still left over from when my grandma set my hair, which totally ended up being worth the time and effort because they lasted for about three and a half days and they were so pretty!





Life is pretty great. Things are going well and even though I don't have much time to do other stuff, like read or do random photography or see movies, I am just loving how things are right now. Everything is sort of falling into place, and that makes me feel like I'm in the right place and doing what I'm supposed to do.

What about you? How's life going?